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Topic Review (Newest First)

09-15-2012 01:25 PM

pje65

I guess I'll have to be careful with the air conditioner on. It sounds like Reverse is behaving the way it's supposed to behave. Thanks for the input, everyone.

Pete

09-15-2012 03:00 AM

mikebontoft

such a small engine has trouble with the AC compressor. I've killed my focus before because I was about to let the clutch out and the compressor kicked on.

09-14-2012 11:55 PM

Altis

My car will pretty much give up and cut power when taking off in first gear with AC on if I don't rev it up a bit first... it seems when it bogs down, it just cuts the fuel. Only thing that helps is putting the gas right to the floor; it seems to fire the whole thing up, but you actually have to make contact with the floor (stopper).

09-14-2012 11:25 PM

Kabigon

Quote:

Originally Posted by pje65

1) I read somewhere on here that you can go backwards in reverse without any gas, and that this has something to do with the drive by wire.

The "engine computer" (PCM) will open the throttle to some degree when you apply a load to the engine and you have your foot off of the accel pedal (i.e. it tries to maintain a "target" RPM).

In most cases, I wouldn't slip the clutch unless I was trying to back up on an incline. Rather, I would use the clutch pedal to get the car rolling backwards and then clutch in.

09-14-2012 11:01 PM

cbdallas

I've never driven a car that allowed me to fully release the clutch in reverse without going way too fast ..and I've owned 14 cars equipped with a manual transmission. It's totally normal and acceptable to slip the clutch when you're backing up. It would take you a very long time to wear out a clutch by slipping it with the engine at idle speed. I have no explanation for the sensation you're getting on first gear launches other than the traction control may be kicking in. Turn off traction control, go for a drive and see if it happens again.

09-14-2012 10:26 PM

electech

We love our Focus. Thought I read somewhere where the Focus was the top selling car in the segment now.

09-14-2012 10:18 PM

dbenney

Quote:

Originally Posted by suss6052

They are working 7 days a week on 3 shifts (2x 10 hr mon -friday with the C-crew rotating in on the weekends, and at least one or two evening shifts during the week.

exactly... nope no typeo to the OP.. i work at the plant and A crew works M_TH 6-4:30... b crew works Tu-Fr 6pm-4:30am...c crew works Fri & sat 6am-4:30pm sun and mon 6pm-4:30am... so your build date can be any day of the week except holidays. I dont remember the exact date, but we fired up the 3 crews right around that time.

09-14-2012 10:08 PM

pje65

Wow, they must be moving a lot of product. I thought it was a typo.

09-14-2012 09:53 PM

suss6052

Quote:

Originally Posted by pje65

Are flashes and TSBs the same thing? Would they be listed under outstanding recalls? Ford says that there aren't any current recalls for this car. I bought it new. Etis says the build date was 5/13/12, but that was a Sunday.

Pete

They are working 7 days a week on 3 shifts (2x 10 hr mon -friday with the C-crew rotating in on the weekends, and at least one or two evening shifts during the week.

09-14-2012 09:49 PM

pje65

Are flashes and TSBs the same thing? Would they be listed under outstanding recalls? Ford says that there aren't any current recalls for this car. I bought it new. Etis says the build date was 5/13/12, but that was a Sunday.

As far as riding the clutch in reverse goes, I guess I've always done that a little bit. However, this car goes much faster than any other car I've had. Perhaps it's because it has a lot more HP than the other manuals I've driven, which, other than my '00 Civic (127 HP, I think), were mostly built in the '70s and '80s. They had a lot less power. Still, if I didn't ride the clutch in my Focus, I could literally run someone over in reverse without having my foot on the gas. Is that normal? In other cars I've driven, I'd initially find where the clutch engages by gradually releasing it with no gas. However, with those cars, releasing the clutch completely would invariably make the car stall or perhaps limp along very slowly. This car takes off when I do that.

Pete

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